Lapping method and apparatus



May 5, 936. H. E. SNYDER LA-PPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8,1953 P W d W W I N LN N .KN kw u ou M R R w ,R E /J ha m w Mm www Q W uwEN H M |l|- m www ru wwf) l /iimw mi uw Il @n JV gill' Imm! I lim N%\ MNma x a Kw NN kim mw NN NF QN \W- Q May 5, 5936.

H. E. SNYDER LPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1933@Sheets-Sheet 2 May 5,' 93@ i H E SNYDER '2,039,852

LAPPING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 8, 1933 3 sheets-sheet 5Patented May 5, 1936 PATENT OFFICE LAPPING lWETI-IOD AND .APPARATUSHarold E. Snyder, Massillon, Ohio, assignor yto Clarence I. McAllister,Massillon, Ohio Application December 8, 1933, Serial No. 701,483

4 Claims.

My invention relates to methods and apparatus for simultaneously lappingpreferably spherical seat surfaces on three parts or members, includinga central part or member having opposite convex l. spherical surfacesthereon and two end parts or members each having a concave sphericalsurface therein for fitting one of the convex surfaces of the centralpart o-r member.

Such parts or members may be used for example in connection with apackless union for a water pump such as set forth in U. S. LettersPatent No. 1,792,786, for Sealing means, issued February 17, 1931 toHarry J. Walker.

The three parts or members for such a packless union may include acentral hardened steel seal disk ring having coaxial opposite sphericaland annular convex faces thereon, and two hardened steel end rings eachhaving a spherical and -annular concave seat face thereon for fittingone of the convex seat faces on the seal disk ring.

It is essential that each set of intertting spherical faces be finishedto substantially Johannsen gauge accuracy with respect to each other,and for this purpose it has been heretofore necessary to hand lap theinterfitting seat faces of the three parts.

Such hand lapping operations as heretofore carried out are relativelyslow and costly.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of animproved method and apparatus whereby the intertting seat surfaces ofthe three parts may be rapidly lapped, preferably by the use of powerdriven means, thereby reducing the cost of providing the necessaryaccurately intertting seat faces, and at the same time enabling massproduction of the parts, and a consequent greater use of the packlesswater pumps in automobiles and the like.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the methods, apparatus,parts, combinations, andsub-combinations, which comprise the presentinvention, and the nature of Which is set forth in the following generalstatement, and preferred Iembodiments of the apparatus tof gether withthe preferred mode of use in carrying out the improved methods, are setforth in the following description, and which are particularly anddistinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming parthereof. y

The nature of the improved lapping method of the present invention maybe described in general terms as including abutting two end members eachhaving a concave spherical seat formed therein against opposite sides ofa central disk 5 member having opposite convex spherical seats therein,each concave spherical seat inter'tting L with one of the convexspherical seats, applying a lapping compound between the interttingseats, and simultaneously rotating the end members in the same directionabout axes which intersect at the center of the central member.

The nature of the improved apparatus of the present invention may bedescribed in general terms as including two power driven spindles whoselongitudinal axes are angled to and intersect each other, means rotatingthe spindles in the same direction, opposite ends of the spindles beingspaced from each other, each of the opposed ends of the spindles beingprovided with chuck means for releasabl'y mounting one of the end1members of the union for rotation about the spindle axis, meansyieldingly urging one of the spindles towards the other, and .means forstarting and stopping rotation of the spindles and simultaneouslyfeeding lapping compound to the union members when the spindles start torotate.

One embodiment of the improved apparatus hereof adapted for carrying outthe improved method hereof, is illustrated in the accompanying ldrawingsforming part hereof, in which L Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a anged end sleeve mounting one end ring of the union, the lapfinishing of the parts of which the improved method and apparatus isparticularlr adapted;

Fig. 2, aside elevation View of the central seal ring of the union;

Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view of the other end ring of the union;

Fig. 4, a top plan view with portions broken Yaway and illustrated insection of the improved apparatus with the three union parts to belapped in place ready for operation of the apparatus for lapping thespherical seat surfaces on the three union parts;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary enlarged sectional View of the spindle portions ofFig. 4 more clearly illustrating details of construction and arrangementof the apparatus and the union parts;

Fig. 6, a front elevation view with portions broken away and illustratedin vertical section, illustrating certain parts of the apparatus intheir relative positions during lapping operation of the same when thespindles are rotating;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary plan sectional View of one of the check valves ofthe `improved'lapping compound feeding means of the apparatus, as online 1-1, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating certain `parts of theapparatus in their relative 55 positions when the spindles are stoppedpermitting loading or removing of the union parts in or on the chucks ofthe spindles.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improved lapping apparatus is indicated generally by I0 and isadapted for carrying out the improved method hereof for lappingintertting spherical seat faces on a three part union indicatedgenerally by The three part union as illustrated comprises parts of apackless union for a Water pump such as set forth in U. S. LettersPatent No. 1,792,786, and includes a central hardened steel seal diskring I2 and two hardened steel end rings I3 and |3'.

The central seal disk ring I2 is formed with a central externallycylindric face |5 and opposite convex spherical and annular or zone seatfaces |6 and I 1v, the faces I6 and I'I comprising opposite and similarzonesY of spherical surfaces having centers on the axis indicated by thedotdash line |8, of the cylindric face I5.

The sealdisk ring I2 has an internally cylindric bore I9 whose axis isalso the axis I8 and the convex spherical zone faces I6 and |`Iterminate at their outer ends in smaller circular corner intersections20 and 2| respectively with the central cylindric bore I9, and thespherical zone faces I6 and I1 terminate in opposite inner ends inlarger circular corner intersections 22 vand 23 respectively with thecylindric face I5.

The planes of thecircular corner intersections l22 and 23 are Yparallelwith each other and are equally spaced from'the central plane 24 of thering, normal to the axis I8.

i The planes of the circularrcorner intersections 20 and 2| are parallelwith each other and with the planes of the circular corner intersections22 and 23 and are equally spaced therefrom.

Accordingly the convex spherical zone faces |6 and |1 may be otherwisestated as being oppositely and similarly disposed Vwith respect to thecenter 25 of the seal disk ring I 2, and the radii of the sphericalfaces I6 and |1 as illustrated are preferably equal. Y y

The end ring I3 isformed with a central internally cylindric bore 26,`and an outer cylindric surface 21, each cylindric surface having theaxis, indicated by the dot-dash line 28, and at one end the end ring I 3has a at annular end face 29 normal to the `axis 28 and at the other enda flat Vannular end face 30 likewise normal to the axis 28. Aconcavespherical and annular or Vzone face 3| is locatedv between theinternally cylindric'bore 26 of the end ring I3 and the annular flat endface 30,'and the spherical seat face 3| terminates at its outer end in alarger circular corner intersection 32 with the flat end face 30, thecenter of the spherical face 3| being on the l -axisf28 and the radiusof the concave spherical face 3| of the end ring I3 being substantiallyequal to the radius of the convex spherical face I1 of the seal diskring I2 so that the spherical faces I1 and 3| may intert with eachother.

The .end ring I3 as illustrated is mounted in a counterbore provided inone Yend of a sleeve 33, the sleeve 33 being preferably provided with aange 33 at its end mounting the end ring I3. The sleeve 33 hasaninternally cylindric4 bore 34 which is coaxial with the bore 26 of theend ring I3. The flanged sleeve 33 as illustrated is used in connectionwith a certain form' of the packless union Y The end ring I3' asillustrated is substantially identical with the end ring I3, the endring I3 being formed with a central internally cylindric bore 26', andan outer cylindric surface 21', each cylindric surface having the axis,indicated by the dot-dash line 28', and at one end the end ring I 3 hasa flat annular end face 29 normal to the axis 28 and at the other end ailat annular end face 30 likewise normal to the axis 28'. A concavespherical and annular or zone face 3| is located between the internallycylin- -dric bore 26 of the end ring I3 and the annular flat end face30', and the spherical seat face 3| terminates at its outer end in alarger circular corner intersection 32 with the flat end face 30', thecenter of the spherical face 3| being on the axis 28 and the radius ofthe concave spherical face 3| of the end ring I3 being substantiallyequal to the radius of the convex spherical face I6 of the seal diskring I2 so that the spherical faces I6 and 3|' may intert with eachother.

For the successful operation of the particular union it is essentialthat the intertting spherical faces I6 and 3| and I1 and 3|, be finishedto substantially Johannsen gauge y accuracy.

Prior to the present invention, the finishing of the intertting seatfaces has been by hand lapping operations which have been relativelyslow, costly, and permitting only a limited production.

The apparatus I0 is particularly adapted for rapidly lap finishing theintertting seat faces of each set of three union parts including a sealdisk ring I2 and 'end rings I3 and I3.

The improved lapping apparatus I0 includes a table frame indicatedgenerally by 4I and having a top 42 on which improved spindle means 43and 44 are operatively mounted.

The spindle means 43 includes a bearing block 45 in which a spindle 46is mounted for rotation, preferably by anti-friction bearing means 41and 41.

The spindle 46 includes a spindle sleeve 48 having opposite endsextending beyond opposite ends of the bearing block 45. On the outer endof the spindle sleeve 48 a drive pulley 49 is secured. Y Retractingchuck means indicated generally by 50 are operatively mounted in and onthe spindle sleeve 48, the engaging means 5| of the chuck means 50 beinglocated at the inner end of a rod 50-I slidably mounted sleeve 48.

The spindle means 44 includes a bearing block 52 in which the spindle 53is mounted for rotation, preferably by anti-friction bearing means 54and 54.

The spindle 53 includes a spindle sleeve 55 having opposite endsextending beyond opposite ends of the bearing block 52. On the outer endof the spindle sleeve 55 a drive pulley 56 is secured.

Chuck or collet means indicated generally by 51 are operatively mountedon the spindle sleeve 55, the engaging means 58 of the chuck means 51being located at the inner end of the spindle 53 opposite the engagingmeans 5| of the chuck means 50 of the spindle 46.

The axis of rotation of the spindle 46 is indicated by the dot-dash line59 and the axis of rotation of the spindle 53 is indicated by thedot-dash line 60.

The axes 59 and 60 are angled with respect to each other and intersectat the point 6| between the bearing blocks 45 and 52.

zoV

The. 'improved lapping' apparatus I0 lfurthermore includes means fordriving both spindles 46 and 53 inthe 4same direction of rotation, andas illustrated the driving means is Aindicated generally by r62 andlincludes a drive sleeve 63 mounted for rotation on the table frame 4|below@ the .table top 42, as by anti-friction bearing means 64.

On onev outer end of the drive sleeve '63 a drive pulley 165 is providedand the drive pulley 65 is drive'connected as by means of a belt 66 witha drive motor, not shown.

On the other outer end of the drive sleeve 63 a female clutch member 61is provided.

A countershaft 68 extends through the bore of the drive sleeve 63 andhas one end rotatablymcunted in the frame 4I as byanti-frictionbearingmeans 69, .and the other end rotatably mounted in the drivesleeve 63 as by. anti-friction bearing means 10.

A male clutch member 1I is slidably keyed on the countershaft 68adjacent the female clutch member 61 and thecountershaft 68 has ashoulder 12 formed thereon, and a'compression spring.13`is interposedbetween the'shoulder 12 and the male clutch member 1I normally urgingthe .male clutch member 1I into engagement -with.the female'clutchmember 61, and when thefclutch members are engaged, thecountershaft 68 isk .rotated by and with the Ydrive sleeve 63.

Themale clutch member 1I is `formed with an'outwardly opening annulargroove 14 which preferablyhas at the sides thereof friction rings 15.and 15'.

A` yoke 16 has its lowerforked .end'11 extending into the groove 14Ybetween'the friction rings 15 and 15', and the upperend 18 of theyoke16 is secured to a collar 19,l and the collar 19 is preferablyadjustably mounted on a .slide shaft slidably mounted in the frame`4I.

The countershaft 68 has a driving'pulley 8| secured'on one end thereofin driving alignment with the pulley-49 ofthe spindle means 43, and abelt 82 provides adriving connection between the driving pulley 8| andthe pulley 49 of the spindle means 43.

Thecountershaft 68 also hasa driving pulley 83 secured thereon at itsother end in driving alignment with the driven pulley 56 ofthe spindlemeans 44, and a belt 84 provides a driving connection between thecountershaft driving pulley 83 and the driven pulley 56l of the spindlemeans' 44.

Accordingly, the spindles 46 and 53 are driven in the same directionwhen the countershaft 68 is in driving engagement with the drivesleeve63, asshown in Fig. 6.

A compression spring 81 is interposed between the collar` 19 and one ofthe frame members 88 and normally urges the slide shaft 80 in thedirection of the arrow^89. l

CamV tongues are secured on the-outer side of the frame member 88 andcoact with cam notches 9| and cam tongues 9| provided on the adjacentend of a cam sleeve 92 which is rotatably mounted on the outer-end ofthe slide shaft 80, and which is provided with a handle 93.

Accordingly the spring 81 yieldingly abuts the cam sleeve 92 with thecam notches 9| against the cam tongues 90 when the handle-93 is locatedin the position shown in Fig. 6.

When theA handle.93 is turned to the'position shown in Fig..8, .the .camtongues 9|' of the cam sleeve 92 ride over the frame cam tongues 90andrslide theshaft 80 -in the 'directionofthe arrow 94, and accordinglyVdisengages the male clutch member 1 I slidably-keyed on thecountershaft, from the female clutch member 61 carried on the drivesleeve "63, as aforesaid,V with the yoke forked end 11 abutting against"the friction ring 15 in the` groove 14, and not only serving to retractthe male clutch member 1I from the female clutch member 61, but alsofservingfto brake the same, and thus stop rotation of the countershaft68.

Means indicated generally by 95 and actuated bymovement of theV'slideshaft 80. are'provided for automatically delivering a measuredaquaritity of lapping compound, such as an emeryidust and an oilmixture, .to a point 96 which is withinthe bore of a seal ring I2 beinglappedin a machine,` from which the delivered charge of lapping compoundcentrifuges out between the abutting spherical zone faces of the threeunion parts I2, I3, and I3 being lapped.

The lapping compound feeding means 95 includes a base member 91 which ismounted on a plate 98 carried on the outer end of arms 99 the inner endsof which are secured totheutable top 42.

A lower compartment |00 is formed by a counterbore I 00 provided in thelower facewof the base member 91 and by the upper face of the plate 98.

A duct IOI communicates between thecompartment |00 and one end of a feedtube |02 which is screwed into thebase member 91, and which extendsthrough the bore of the spindle sleeve 55, and the other end of the feedtubeI02 terminates at the point 96.

The base member 91 has an upper compartment |03 formed by an uppercounterbore |03 therein, and by a diaphragm |04 extending across theupper end of the upper counterbore |03.

A port |05 communicates between the lower compartment |00 and the uppercompartment |03 and a spring pressed check valve |06 is cooperativelyassociated with the port |05.

The diaphragm |04 is centrally connected with a check valve casing |01which includes inlet openings |08, an outlet opening |09 and a springpressed check `valve III] interposed therebetween.

Above the diaphragm |04 a tubular member III has its lower threaded endscrewed into the threaded upper end of the counterboreI03 and a screenclosure I I 2 .may be provided for the'upper end of the bore of thetubular member III.

A diaphragm rod. I I3 is secured atits lower end to the upper end of thevalve casing |01 and the rod I I3 passes through an opening formed inthe screen closure `I I2 and through a guide opening formed in a guidebracketI I4 secured to the upper end of the tubular member I I I.

Above the guide bracket I|4 the upper end of the rod ||3 is connectedto'one end of a supporting bar II5, the other end of which isconnectedpreferably adjustably as by nuts IIB with the threaded upper end of apush rod II1. The push rod II1 is slidably mounted in a vertical guidetube I I8 the lower threaded end of which is screwed in a threaded boreformed in the plate 98.

The limit of downward travel of the push rod ||1 and thus of thediaphragm rod ||3 is adjustably determined asby means of a nut II9screwed on the threaded upperk end of the push rod |41, and abuttingagainst thevupperend of the guide tube I I 8 at the desired position ofmaxi mum downward travel as shown in Fig. 6.

The lower end of the push rod I1 extends below the lower end of theguide tube I I8 below the plate 98, and a flanged nut |20 is screwed ona threaded portion of the lower end of the push rod |I1 and acompression spring I 2| is interposed between the ilanged nut |20 and alock nut |22 screwed on the threaded lowe-r end of the guide tube |I8,thereby normally urging the push rod II'I downwardly.

A rocker arm |23 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as by apivot bolt |24 secured in the lower ends of members |25 depending fromthe arms 99.

'I'he outer end of the rocker arm |23 has an adjustable push rodactuating head |26 screwed therein, and the inner end of the rocker arm|23 is pivotally secured to one end of a link |21, the other end ofwhich is pivotally secured to the adjacent end of the slide shaft 80.

' In Fig. 8 the relative positions of the parts of the apparatus I0 areshown when the spindles have been stopped, union parts having beenloaded on the spindle chucks and when the slide shaft is in its positionof extreme displacement in the direction of the arrow 94, and therocker' arm head |26 is elevated soas to elevate the push rod ||1 andthe diaphragm rod I I3 and the diaphragm |04.

The tubular member I Vis lled with lapping compound and when thediaphragm rod I3 and diaphragm |04 are elevated to the positions shownin Fig. 8, the check valve I I0 opens and the check valve |00 closes,thereby permitting a charge of lapping compound to pass from the bore ofthe tubular member III through the checkv valve |.I0 into the uppercompartment |03.

When the handle 93 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 6, vthe slideshaft 80 is moved to its position of extreme displacement in thedirection of the arrow 89, and the outer end of the rocker arm |23 dropspermitting the spring |2| to move the push rod I I1 and the diaphragmrod I3 downwardly, thus bringing the diaphragm |04 to the position shownin Fig. 6, in which the upper check valve ||0 is closed and the lowercheck valve |06 is opened and a charge of lapping compound has been fedthrough the bore of the tube |02 to the point 96 within the bore of theseal disk ring I2 of the three union parts loaded in the apparatus readyfor lapping.

Simultaneously, the male clutch member 1| has been'permitted to engagewith the female clutch member 61 and the union parts I2, I3 and I3 arelapped, by operation of the apparatus rotating the end rings of theunion parts about their axes 28 and 28 intersecting each other at thecenter 25 of the seal disk ring I2, the end rings I3 and I3' rotating inthe same direction.

After the parts have been lapped sufficiently, the chuck 5I is retractedand the union parts are removed from the chucks of the apparatus, andanother set of three union parts is inserted into the chucks of themachine.

In the illustrated form of the apparatus I0, the retracting chuck means50 is provided in its engaging means 5I with a rubber washer 5| whichyieldingly backs each end ring I3 carried in the engaging means 5I.

The engaging means 58 of the chuck or collet means 51 as illustrated isarranged to carry successively ange sleeves 33 in which the end rings'I3 are mounted as heretofore described.

As aforesaid, the engaging means 5| is mounted on the inner end of a rod50-I slidably mounted in the spindle sleeve 48.

The other end of the rod 50-I extends beyond .the pulley 49, and acounterbored sleeve' 50-2 is slot and pin connected at one end 50--3With the outer end of the rod 50-I and is provided at its other end 50-4with a releasable bayonet joint connection with the spindle sleeve 48,and within the counterbore of the sleeve 50-2 a collar 50-5 is securedon the rod 50|, and a com-V pression spring 50-6 is interposed betweenthe collar 50-5 and the bottom of the counterbore of the sleeve 50-2.

Accordingly when the sleeve 50-2 has its bayonet joint connectionengaged with the spindle l sleeve 48, the spring 50-6 yieldingly urgesVthe rod 50-I and the chuck engaging means 5I, towards the oppositechuck engaging means 58, thereby abutting union parts I3 and I3' mountedrespectively in the engaging means 58 and 5| against a mating' seal diskring I2 located therebetween.

When the sleeve 50-2 is operated to release its bayonet joint connectionwith the sleeve 48, the rod 50--I may be retracted or withdrawn, to theposition shown in Fig. 8, thereby permitting unloading and loading ofthe chuck engaging means.

It is to be particularly noted, that in the lapping Ymethod as carriedout by the improved apparatus above set forth, rotation of the union endmembers in the samedirection, with the central disk ring membertherebetween and with the concave annular spherical zone seats of theend members fitting against the convex seats 0f the central disk ringmember, serves to simultaneously lap the spherical seat surfaces of allthe members because the rotation of the end members in the samedirection gives rise to a continuous slippage or creep of the centralmember with respect to both end members, thereby attaining the desiredlapping action.

When the end members are rotated in opposite directions in abutment witha central disk member, the end members and the central disk memberhaving the described intertting spherical Zone seats, the central diskmember sticks in the spherical zone seat of one of the end members andit is impossible to effect the desired lapping.

I claim:

1. The method of lap finishing spherical zone seats on three membersincluding a central disk member having opposite convex spherical zoneseats thereon and two end members each having a concave spherical zoneseat therein and each concave seat interltting with one ofthe convexseats, whichV includes abutting the members together so that eachconcave seat fits against one of the convex seats, and simultaneouslyrotating the end members in the same direction, the axes of rotation ofthe end members being angled with respect to each other.

3. The method of lap nishing spherical zone seats on three membersincluding a central ring disk member having opposite convex sphericalzone seats thereon and two end disk members each having a concavespherical zone seat therein and each concave seat interfitting With oneof the convex seats, which includes abutting the members together sothat each concave seat ts against one of the convex seats, andsimultaneously rotating the end members in the same direction aboutintersecting angled axes, and introducing lapping compound Within theopening of the ring disk member and between the abutting seats of therotating members from a point adjacent the intersection of the axes ofrotation. 4. Apparatus for lapping and the like including two spindleseach operatively mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, thespindles having opposite ends spaced from each other, chuck means oneach opposite spindle end, means for rotating the spindles, and meansfor feeding successive charges of lapping compound between the oppositechuck means, and common means controlling the operation of the spindlerotating means and the lapping compound feeding means.

HAROLD E. SNYDER.

